Marimekko: Weather Diary collection.

I’m sure this will sound more than a little ridiculous, but I got a bit teary-eyed when I saw the new Weather Diary collection from Marimekko for the first time on Saturday night. You know how sometimes you have a picture in your head of exactly what something (a sweater, a chair, a plate…whatever) should look like, but it’s a little bit like a dream because it never actually materializes in front of you? I suppose that’s the moment when artists decide to create; to make real the thing they want to see. The rest of us wait for someone else to do it. I feel like Marimekko just did it for me. This is exactly what I wanted. Did I know that before I saw it? I can’t remember anymore.

The collection, inspired by Finnish weather patterns and named for islands in the archipelago, was designed by Aino-Maija Metsola. Over a period of several months, Metsola documented changes in weather along the Finnish shoreline through photographs (a number of which can be seen accompanying this interview), which then became sketches and in turn watercolor and ink illustrations. The resulting designs were printed on textiles as well as on Sami Ruotsalainen’s Oiva tableware. Collaboration between Metsola and Ruotsalainen centered around a the idea of dishes to be used for “simple picnics and cottage meals: crepes, wild mushroom soup, freshly baked coffee bread.”

I feel like crawling inside of that video. Yesterday marked the official start of fall, and I couldn’t be happier. This is the best time of year as far as I’m concerned. Everything seems cleaner, fresher and more vibrant. There’s a sense of urgency to try to get done all of the outdoor things you can before winter comes (or before it starts raining), and a relief over not having to sweat under a blazing sun while it happens. I always think of fall as the beginning of the year, probably because I still associate it with starting a new year at school. It’s also my birthday season. The timing could not be more perfect…

Some words from Aino-Maija Metsola about weather:“I like many kinds of weather, including rain and wind. Finding yourself in thick fog or a thunderstorm can also be a surreal experience. Of course, I’m not a big fan of unrelenting rain. Changes in weather are also inspiring if, like me, you’ve learned to dress according to the weather by living on an island. I don’t particularly dislike any weather, except perhaps too warm and drizzly winter weather. Every shower, drizzle or cloudburst is unique and beautiful in its own way. When it’s raining, everything seems to stop for a moment, which I enjoy somehow.”

The entire Weather Diary collection is now available. I’m going to have a very hard time figuring out which piece (pieces?) will be coming home to live with me! I don’t need a teapot, but I wantTHAT teapot. Same goes for the tea towels — aside from being good for drying dishes, they’d also be so nice made into pillows (!) or even in a frame. And all I can think about is wild mushroom soup and freshly baked coffee bread…

I love it too! It’s so dramatic the way Marimekko displays long lengths of fabric outside into nature, blowing in the wind. Thank you for letting us know about the new stuff! It’s a good thing for me that your birthday is in the fall, or I would feel too melancholy about summer ending.

‘I always think of fall as the beginning of the year, probably because I still associate it with starting a new year at school.’

omg, ME, TOO. For as long as I can remember, when I visualize a calendar in my head, there have been two vertical stacks of boxes: Sept down to Dec on the left, and Jan down to Aug on the right. The year starts with September. People always look at me funny when I share this.

Really beautiful stuff, I love all your favorites. I didn’t think anything you said was ridiculous, I also feel the same about fall. (It’s my birthday season too.) I have a lot of time off in the summer, but the heat literally obliterates any enthusiasm I have to actually do anything with it. And then September rolls in… and I just want to do everything all at once. So it really is like a new years sort of thing, a fresh start.

So touching. I leave with a dutch man for now 12 years.
The pictures are quite alike his homeland and what I love the most from this landscapes, the grass in the wind, the storms visible from far away.

Yes, yes, yes, in love with this collection, there were no tears here, but definitely a sharp intake of breath! The concept, the artwork…. the everything! Autumn is to me the most magical time of year to me, the air is crisp, the leaves are all golden, my cat comes in smelling of smoke from smokey chimneys….ahhh I love nothing more, even if I have to go back to college!

Yes! The first time I saw this collection, I had to restrain myself from putting ALL of it on my Pinterest page. Pinning is what I do when I can’t afford something. I would love to own anything from this line.

Marimekko is the coolest kid in the textiles industry and I’m so in love with their fabrics and pottery prints. I have a teapot with mugs from one of their previous collection on my office table and it surely does make my days at work much nicer!

Hi, I like the new collection as well and have admired it already :) I’m not sure if you heard but some time this year there was a (quite obvious) plagiarism case about Metsänväki from Marimekko. Unfortunately everybody seems to jump on the bandwagon now and if one’s desgin has the slightest similarity with Marimekko’s design, they accuse them of plagiarism now. This is also the case with this one, although I don’t think that the two designs look too much alike (you can check it out here, although article is in Finnish. First one is Marimekkos, second picture the “original” http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2013092517531587_uu.shtml)

I usually LOVE Marimekko pottery, and some of the pieces in this collection are great. However, the ones with the little hatch marks remind me of chest hair. Now that I’ve seen hair I can’t unsee it! :)